No Crystal Stair written by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson, illustrated by R Gregory Christie, and published in 2012 by Carolrhoda Lab – a line of distinctive fiction for young adults from Carolrhoda Books, a division of Lerner Publishing Group – has been named the winner of the 2012 Boston Globe –Horn Book Award in the fiction category. First presented in 1967, the Boston Globe – Horn Book Awards are among the most prestigious honors in the field of children's and young adult literature. The award was announced at Book Expo America in New York.

The International Publishers’ Association (IPA) Congress in Cape Town saw Alistair Burtenshaw, director of Books & Publishing at Reed Exhibitions, chair a lively session on “Authors, Translators and Agents: Towards a New Deal?” held recently.

Speaking during a lively session on rights deals in digital era, Alistair presented findings from a previously unpublished Outsell report, commissioned by Reed Exhibitions into the changing nature of publishing transactions and based on anonymised CEO and director level interviews across a number of major markets including the US, UK and France, with the industry revealing that they forecast that e-books will account for just over 25 percent of US consumer sales by 2013, with EMEA growth beginning to accelerate in 2012.

Alistair said, “At the London Book Fair this year there were notable changes on the publishing scene. We saw publishers acquiring (and trading) print and digital rights at the same time. We have seen some agents start to become publishers and a blurring of roles in the supply chain. The most successful self-published authors are now doing both traditional deals with publishing houses and some are trying “distribution only deals.”

With the landscape changing this fast and a huge variety of innovation across different international markets, it is more crucial than ever to understand the wider eco-system. It’s no longer just a few wholesale distributors, key bookstores, and a marketing campaign – now you need to understand and connect with panoply of wholesalers and retailers, both on the street and online. There are more technology platforms, mobile providers, and marketing partners, to work with than ever before.”

The discussion also raised questions of how publishers work together to support industry development and share ideas on how to continue the transformation of the industry without falling foul of competition legislation.

New Delhi-based Niyogi Books and Madras Book Club jointly arranged a book release function at CPREEC Convention Centre. Attended by 100+ book enthusiasts, the evening was filled with the splendour of the majestic river Kaveri. Kaveri (generally Cauvery) is the one holy river which takes a special place in the lives of people living along its banks especially in Tamil Nadu.

The two creative writers, Padma Seshadri & Padma Malini Sundararaghavan traveled the route from where it originates to the point where it merges with the sea. Their enthusiasm for heritage, deep knowledge in English (both taught English at Stella Maris College, Chennai) and experience as writers (Knowledge Encyclopaedia of Postcolonial Literature and Mythological Stories for Young Readers are written by them) made them to explore the river flow from a different angle.

Aptly titled It Happened Along the Kaveri – A Journey Through Space and Time, the book depicts the culture, art, music and agriculture practised in places along the river flow.

At the book launch, the chief guest V Sriram, himself an enthusiast with deep knowledge in different disciplines quoted extensively from the book pointing out the nuances the authors had touched. Dr Chithra Madhavan, historian, archaeologist and heritage enthusiast, received the first copy. In her address, she pointed out the style of the writing of the authors, the appropriateness of the chapter headings and the intellect of the authors.

The Raman Magsaysay and Gyanpith award winner Mahasweta Devi resigned from the post of chairperson of Bangla Academy, which falls under the Information and Cultural Affairs (I&CA) Department, handled by West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee. Her resignation is supposedly in protest against the manner in which the Vidyasagar Award recipient was selected by I&CA Department, Govt of West Bengal.